I took my dog on a 3-mile hour-long counterclockwise loop of the Jackson Park Golf Course perimeter this morning to enjoy 18 bird species and blue skies. I discovered 5th Avenue will be closed from 2/15-3/30 while construction continues related to the Light Rail project, but there is definitely visible progress on the roundabout.
We left the trail to visit a few Little Free Libraries just east of the Pea Patch south of the golf course, but otherwise walked the whole thing.
I always have a surprise waiting on the trail, and today was no exception. The west "mud pit" has been completely filled in with gravel and the trail is in decent shape all the way around. Whoever cares for this trail is doing a very responsive job!
We enjoyed seeing a few buffleheads and Canada geese in the southwest pond, but otherwise pretty much the usual suspects -- it's too early for migration but finches and robins are definitely gearing up. We also saw and heard lots of juncos, kinglets, and chickadees along with a few Bewick's wrens. Visiting the trail in the hour we were on it were about a dozen people and 5 dogs. Very pleasant. Golfers and disc golfers were out enjoying the day as well.
There is still one section of trail I'm eyeing as a potential problem and that's the eroding/undercutting portion (on the western section of the trail) pictured below. I was mildly disturbed by one new display of graffiti - I wish people would embrace Leave No Trace even in the urban settings. If anyone wants to do a good deed, the east part of the trail near the apartments had a ton of trash in the bushes.
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